Introduction

Abstract

In Japan pine wilt disease was especially serious after World War II, and Dr. R. L. Furniss, an entomologist working for the General Headquarters of the Occupation Forces proposed that the problem should be controlled by felling, stripping and burning damaged pine trees. Although the cause of this epidemic disease was not known at that time his proposal was based on the speculation that the disease is associated with insects under the pine bark. His speculation was right, and with the use of his recommendations pine wilt decreased in the following few decades. © 2008 Springer.